Device for use in cleaning windows or the like



Dec. 20, 1966 |TT|N 3,292,193

DEVICE FOR USE IN CLEANING WINDOWS OR THE LIKE Filed March 22. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1966 5, |TT|N 3,292,193

DEVICE FOR USE IN CLEANING WINDOWS OR THE LIKE Filed March 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofifice 3,292,193 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,193 DEVICE FOR USE IN CLEANING WINDOWS OR THE LIKE Garrick Lewis Littin, Forest Hill Road, Henderson RD. 1, Auckland, New Zealand Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,740 10 Claims. (Cl. 1550) The invention relates to apparatus for cleaning windows or the like and in particular to apparatus for cleaning large areas of glass or windows provided in the vertical wall of building structures.

It is generally recognized that methods at present employed in the cleaning of windows of large buildings have not advanced through the years as desired, with the result that manual methods of cleaning the outsides of windows, often at great heights, are still employed.

With the aforementioned factors in mind it is the primary object of my invention to overcome the disadvantages as referred to above by providing an improved apparatus for use in cleaning windows or for other purposes which can be operated without the necessity of the operator having to endanger his life or limb as has previously been the case. Moreover, the apparatus enables large areas of windows or the like to be thoroughly cleaned in a highly efficient and economical manner.

According to one aspect of the invention, the improved apparatus for cleaning windows or the like comprises a frame or base carrying rotatably mounted brush means, Water spraying means mounted on the frame, a prime mover capable of rotating the brush means at a selected speed, with the apparatus being adapted to be drawn over a vertical surface and the brush means rotated on the vertical surface at the same time as water is sprayed on to the vertical surface.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the apparatus for cleaning windows or the like comprises a frame or base carying a brush means in the form of a rotatably mounted brushes, water spraying means mounted on the frame, a prime mover drivably connected to the brushes for rotation of the brushes, regulating means for adjusting the position of the brushes relative to the frame, and suspension ropes drivably connected to the prime mover and by means of which the apparatus is drawn over a vertical surface, with the brushes being adapted to be rotated at the same time as water is sprayed onto the surface and the apparatus moved over the vertical surface.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the present apparatus for cleaning windows or the like.

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematicview in elevation showing the apparatus suspended on a vertical wall.

Referring now to the drawings, the base or frame includes two vertical side members 1 joined by cross members. The frame is also substantially box-like in shape for the support of the various components of the apparatus. Two rotary type brushes 3 and 4 of cylindrical formation are each rotatably mounted on an arm extending from the frame. More specifically, the axis shaft of one rotary brush 3 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the outer end of an upper arm 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) extending from one side of the frame adjacent the upper portion of the frame, While the axis shaft of the other brush 4 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on a lower arm 6 extending from the frame.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper arm 5 is pivotally retained on and extends radially from an upper cross shaft 7 pivotally mounted in suitable bearings re-v tained in the frame, the arm 5 being capable of pivotal movement so that the rotary brush 3 can be moved in an arcuate path relative to the frame during manipulation of the apparatus across an uneven substantially vertical surface as will later be described. In a like manner, the lower arm 6 is pivotally secured to and projects radially from a lower cross shaft 6a but in this case the shaft 6a is a short stub shaft retained in a suitable bearing bracket 8 (see FIG. 2). The arm 6 and brush 4 are capable of arcuate movement in a manner similar to the rotary brush 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, arcuate movement of the arms 5 and 6 is controlled by upper and lower pneumatic ram and cylinder units generally indicated as at 9 and 10 respectively. The free end of the cylinder 9a is pivotally connected to the frame and is positioned horizontally relative to the frame. The outer end of the ram 9b extends therefrom and is pivotally connected to the arm 5 at approximately the mid-point of the length of the arm as at 5a. Air lines 11 and 12 lead to each end of the cylinder 9a and through which air under pressure is directed from a suitable source to either side of the ram head of the ram 9b to effect projection and retraction of the ram 9b to impart arcuate movement to the arm 5 and brush 3.

Similarly, the free end of the cylinder 10a of the second pneumatic ram and cylinder unit 10 is pivotally connected to the frame and the unit is positioned horizontally relative to the frame. The outer end of the ram 10b is pivotally connected to the lower arm 6 as at 6a. Air lines 13 and 14 lead to each end of the cylinder 10a for enabling air under pressure to be directed from a suitable source to either side of the ram head of the ram 10b to retract or project the latter to impart arcuate movement to the lower arm 6 and rotary brush 4.

Rotary movement of the brushes 3 and 4 is initiated from a prime mover such as an electric motor 15. More specifically, the drive shaft of the electric motor 15 is connected through a flexible coupling 16 to an upper gear reduction unit 19 which is drivably connected to the upper rotatable cross shaft 7. Final drive to the upper rotary brush 3 is provided by a chain and sprocket drive 20 connected between the central portion of the cross shaft 7 and the axis shaft (not shown) of the brush 3. To effect such a connection, the rotary brush 5 is divided into two sections to accommodate the chain and sprocket drive 20 (see FIG. 2). The drive to the lower cross shaft 6a includes a belt and pulley drive 21 connected between the drive shaft of the motor 15 and a lower gear reduction unit 22 which drives the lower cross shaft 6a which is connected by a chain and sprocket drove 23 to the axis shaft (not shown) of the lower rotary brush 4. As was true of the brush 3, the rotary brush 4 is divided into two sections to accommodate the chain and sprocket drive 23.

The water spraying means comprises pipes 26 and 27 respectively extending from the radially extending arms 5 and 6 between the rotary brushes 3 and 4 (see FIG. 1). and perforated tubular cross heads 28 and 29 respectively are secured across the outer ends of the arms 5 and 6. Water under pressure is delivered via delivery lines 30 and 31, pipes 26 and 27 and heads 28 and 29 and sprayed onto the brushes and the vertical surface over which the apparatus is being drawn or moved.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, each rotary brush 3 and 4 is provided with a pair of deflector shafts 3a and 4a, which serve to protect the bristles from becoming entangled in the chain 20.

The arrangement for suspending the apparatus is illustrated with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. More specifically, the upper cross shaft 7 carrier a pair of drums 32 and 33 about which hoist ropes 34 are wound. The hoist ropes 34 are led through guide pulleys 35 mounted on brackets 36 extending from the top portion of the frame and the hoist ropes 34 are then attached to a bracket 37 projecting outwardly from the top of vertical wall surface 38 (see FIG. 3). One end of an anchoring rope 39 is attached to a lower bracket 40 on the bottom of the frame, while the other or lower end of the anchoring rope 39 is anchored to a spring loaded winding drum 41.

The arrangement is such that with the apparatus anchored on a vertical wall surface of a building by the hoist ropes 34 and anchoring rope 39, the electric motor 15 is activated to drive the cross shafts 7 and 8 and the rotary brushes 3 and 4. At the same time, rotation of the upper shaft 7 winds the drums 32 and 33 to lift the apparatus 011 the ropes 34. The electric motor 15 is controlled through a suitable remote control device (not shown) so that the motor 15 may be reversed or stopped. Further, spring loaded safety clutches 42 can be provided as a connection between the cross shaft 7 and the drums 32 and 33.

During travel of the apparatus overthe vertical surface 38, remote control devices (not shown) are manipulated to direct air under pressure to selected sides of the ram heads of the ram and cylinder units 9 and 10 to move the arms and 6, such as when a window ledge is being negotiated.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity to the showings in the drawings but changes and modifications may be made therein so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. An apparatus for cleaning windows and the like in the vertical wall of a building structure, including frame means adapted to be moved over the vertical wall, upper and lower horizontally extending shafts turnably mounted in the frame means, an arm pivotally mounted at one end on each of the shafts, upper and lower cylindrical brushes, means rotatably mounting each brush on an arm, a prime mover on the frame means, drive connections between the prime mover and the upper and lower shafts, additional drive connections between the upper and lower shafts and the means rotatably mounting the upper and lower brushes on the arms, means for spraying water carried by the frame means and located between the upper and lower brushes, and hoist ropes adapted to be fixed to the building structure and operably connected to the prime mover whereby upon activation of the prime mover, the hoist ropes move the frame means over the vertical Wall while simultaneously the upper and lower brushes are rotated via the drive and additional drive connections with the water spraying means directing water onto the vertical wall.

2. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means operably related to the frame means and each arm for adjusting the position of each brush relative to the frame means.

3. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said adjusting means includes a cylinder pivotally connected to the frame means and a ram pivotally connected to the arm.

4. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the drive connection between the prime mover and the upper shaft includes a flexible coupling and a gear reduction unit, and the additional drive connection between the upper shaft and the means rotatably mounting the upper brush includes sprockets on the upper shaft and the mounting means and a chain trained about the sprockets.

5. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the drive connection between the prime mover and the lower shaft includes a belt and pulley drive and a gear reduction unit, and the additional drive connection 'between the lower shaft and the means rotatably mounting the lower brush includes sprockets on the lower shaft and the mounting means and a chain trained about the sprockets.

6. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which each cylindrical brush is constituted by two axially spaced apart sections with the sprocket on the associated mounting means being located in the space between the sections.

7. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the water spraying means includes a pipe extending from each arm adjacent each cylindrical brush and a perforated cross head securedto and extending transversely of the pipe.

8. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including anchoring rope means attached to the frame means and to a point adjacent the lower end of the vertical wall.

9. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the point of attachment of the rope means adjacent the lower end of the vertical wall comprises a springloaded drum.

10. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the operative connection between the hoist ropes and the prime mover is defined by drums on the upper shaft on which the ropes are adapted to he wound.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,037,226 6/1962 Schmedt et al. 1582 3,080,592 3/ 1963 Hassage.

FOREIGN PATENTS 250,862 4/ 1964 Australia. 446,008 8/ 1912. France.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

S. E. BECK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING WINDOWS AND THE LINK IN THE VERTICAL WALL OF A BUILDING STRUCTURE, INCLUDING FRAME MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MOVED OVER THE VERTICAL WALL, UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SHAFT TURNABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME MEANS, IN ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON EACH OF THE SHAFTS, UPPER AND LOWER CYLINDRICAL BRUSHES, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING EACH BRUSH ON AN ARM, A PRIME MOVER ON THE FRAME MEANS, DRIVE CONNCETIONS BETWEEN THE PRIME MOVER AND THE UPPER AND LOWER SHAFTS, ADDITIONAL DRIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER BRUSHES THE MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING THE UPPER AND LOWER BRUSHES ON THE ARMS, MEANS FOR SPRAYING WATER CARRIED BY THE FRAME MEANS AND LOCATED BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER BRUSHES, AND HOIST ROPES ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO THE BUILDING STRUCTURE AND OPERABLY CONNECTED TO THE PRIME MOVER WHEREBY UPON ACTIVATION OF THE PRIME MOVER, THE HOIST ROPES MOVE THE FRAME MEANS OVER THE VERTICAL WALL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY THE UPPER AND LOWER BRUSHES ARE ROTATED VIA THE DRIVE AND ADDITIONAL DRIVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE WATER SPRAYING MEANS DIRECTING WATER ONTO THE VERTICAL WALL. 